List of Presentations

Our graduate students are highly involved in the professional community.  Attendance and presentations at the annual American Sociological Association and Society for the Scientific Study of Religion is regular.

Recent Presentations

2018

Feyza Akova, “Understanding Terrorists’ Actions and Agency: A Critical Approach,” American Sociological Association annual meeting: Philadelphia, August

Katherine Comeau, "Where Can I Find More Money? How the Challenges of Fundraising affect Faith-Based Organizations," American Sociological Association annual meeting: Philadelphia, August

Katherine Comeau, "The Problem of Religion in Humanitarian Aid", Society for the Scientific Study of Religion, annual meeting: Las Vegas, October

Brianna McCaslin, "Organizational Legitimacy: Catholics and Contraceptive Coverage", Society for the Scientific Study of Religion, annual meeting: Las Vegas, October

Audra Nakas, ""I'm Not a Conventional Traditionalist": Pilot Study of Young Adults Who Attend the Tridentine Latin Mass", Society for the Scientific Study of Religion, annual meeting: Las Vegas, October

Michael Rotolo, "Imagining Religion: The Unconscious Substructures of American Religious Understandings", Society for the Scientific Study of Religion, annual meeting: Las Vegas, October

Justin Van Ness, "Signal Transmission, Signal Reception,” American Sociological Association annual meeting: Philadelphia, August

Michael Wood, "Identifying the Cultural Elements that Anchor Evaluative Reasoning," American Sociological Association annual meeting: Philadelphia, August

Michael Wood, "Religious Homophily Throughout Emerging Adulthood", Society for the Scientific Study of Religion, annual meeting: Las Vegas, October

2017

Shanna Corner, "The Powers that Be: Religion, State Authority, and Human Rights," Society for the Scientific Study of Religion, annual meeting: Washington D.C., October

Shanna Corner, "Secular Global Elites? Religious Identities, Context-Based Knowledge, and Meaning-Making Processes within UN Spaces," American Sociological Association annual meeting: Montreal, QC, August

Sarah Johnson, "Rest in Ambiguity: Unitarian Universalist Ritual Responses to Death," Society for the Scientific Study of Religion, annual meeting: Washington D.C., October

Brianna McCaslin, "Adolescent Religiosity and Sexual Self-Efficacy," American Sociological Association annual meeting: Montreal, QC, August

Karen Hooge Michalka, "Congregational Rituals, Symbolic Boundaries, and Catholicism: How the 'Old Country' Figures in Protestant Congregants’ Orientations Towards What It Means to be a Latino Immigrant in the U.S. Midwest," Association for the Sociology of Religion, annual meeting: Montreal, QC, August

Megan Rogers,  "Identifying the Highly Religious in China," Pew Conference: Washington D.C., October

Megan Rogers, "Superstitious Beliefs, Cultish Beliefs, and Real Beliefs:' How Educated White Collar Buddhist and Protestant Converts in Urban China Draw Religious Boundaries," Society for the Scientific Study of Religion, annual meeting: Washington D.C., October

Megan Rogers, "Religion in the Workplace in Urban China," American Sociological Association annual meeting: Montreal, QC, August

Michael Rotolo, "Measuring Religiousness: Conventional Measures vs. Self-Evaluation from Adolescence to Young Adulthood,"  Society for the Scientific Study of Religion, annual meeting: Washington D.C., October

Michael Rotolo, "Preparation for the Journey of Life: The Role of Experience in Parents’ Approaches to Religious Transmission," Harvard Ways of Knowing Graduate Conference on Religion: Cambridge, October

Justin Van Ness, "The Privilege of Place: Religious Space and Inequalities in Self-Development," Society for the Scientific Study of Religion, annual meeting: Washington D.C., October

Justin Van Ness, "Interaction Ritual Theory, Cultural Objects, and Commitment in an Activist Religious Movement," American Sociological Association annual meeting: Montreal, QC, August

Michael Wood,  "The Image-Schematic Structures of Religious Conversion and Exit Narratives," Society for the Scientific Study of Religion, annual meeting: Washington D.C., October

Michael Wood, "Thinking about Age-Appropriateness: Understanding the Role of Culture in Moral Evaluation," American Sociological Association annual meeting: Montreal, QC, August

2016

Jade Avelis, "Social Class, Cultural Resources, and Primary Caregiving Fathers," Eastern Sociological Society Annual Meeting: Boston, March

Katherine Comeau, "Faith Based Organizations and International Development: What does Religion Add?" American Sociological Association, annual meeting:  Seattle, August

Katherine Comeau, "The 'Faith of FBOs': Organizational Repertoires and Approaches to Humanitarian Development," Society for the Scientific Study of Religion, annual meeting: Atlanta, October

Shanna Corner, "Cultural Models of Religion in UN Treaty Body Sessions: Mapping Understandings of Religion and Efforts to Foster Shared Conceptions of Women’s Rights," Society for the Scientific Study of Religion, annual meeting: Atlanta, October

Shanna Corner, "Cultural Models of Religion, Feminism, and the Effort to Advance Women’s Rights within the United Nations," American Sociological Association, annual meeting:  Seattle, August

Karen Hooge Michalka, "Suffering and Boundary Formation in Latino Protestant Congregations," Society for the Scientific Study of Religion, annual meeting: Atlanta, October

Karen Hooge Michalka, "Symbolic Boundaries with Catholicism at an Immigrant Latino Christian Church," American Sociological Association, annual meeting:  Seattle, August

Linda Kawentel, "Flourishing in Ministry: Examining Hedonic and Eudaimonic Pastoral Wellbeing,"  Society for the Scientific Study of Religion, annual meeting: Atlanta, October

Linda Kawentel, "Religious Sources of Gender Traditionalism among U.S. Catholics: Adherence to Church Authority and Attitudes toward Women's Family Roles," Association for the Sociology of Religion, annual meeting: Seattle, August

McKenna LeClear, "Beyond the Garudhammas: Religious Feminism in Buddhism," Society for the Scientific Study of Religion, annual meeting: Atlanta, October

Brianna McCaslin, "Am I Going to be Able to Call Myself a Catholic?: Contraceptive use and Religious Identity Negotiation," Society for the Scientific Study of Religion, annual meeting: Atlanta, October

Brianna McCaslin, "Condom Nation or Condemnation?: Religious Effects on Adolescent Sexual Health Knowledge," American Sociological Association, annual meeting:  Seattle, August

Megan Rogers, "Learning to Pray: Cultivating a Christian Identity among Young White-Collar Protestants in Urban China," Society for the Scientific Study of Religion, annual meeting: Atlanta, October

Lisa Weaver Swartz, "Truth, Legacy, Vision: Material Culture and Identity Construction at an Evangelical Seminary,"  Society for the Scientific Study of Religion, annual meeting: Atlanta, October

Justin VanNess, "A Cognitive Science Revival of Collective Behavior Theory," American Sociological Association, annual meeting:  Seattle, August

Michael Wood, "Explaining Religious Effects:  Nones as a Explanatory Tool," American Sociological Association, annual meeting:  Seattle, August

Michael Wood, and Ethan Fridmanski,  "Religious Conversation in Adolescent Ego Networks,"  Sunbelt Social Networks Conference of the International Network for Social Network Analysis, May

2015

Manglos-Weber, Nicolette and Jade Avelis. “Consciousness and Concern: New Ways of Talking about Young Adult Religiosity.” Society for the Scientific Study of Religion annual meeting: Newport Beach, October

Jade Avelis. “Cultural Alignment in the Lives of Primary Caregiving Fathers.” University of Notre Dame Sociology Department Culture Workshop. Notre Dame

Cole Carnesecca. "Theologies of the State: the Meiji Restoration and the Emergence of Religious Modernity in Japan,"  American Sociological Association, annual meeting:  Chicago, August

Katherine Comeau. "Non-governmental Organizations and the Impact of Religious Identity,"  American Sociological Association, annual meeting:  Chicago, August

Shanna Corner. "The Proper Role of Religion: Nuancing Theorization of the Politics of Legitimating Human Rights,"  American Sociological Association, annual meeting:  Chicago, August

Daniel Escher.  "The Role of Cultural Matching in Micro-Mobilization," American Sociological Association, annual meeting: Chicago, August

Karen Hooge Michalka. "Including the Youth: Process of Incorporation of the Second Generation at Two Latino Protestant Congregations," Society for the Scientific Study of Religion, annual meeting: Newport Beach, October

Karen Hooge Michalka. "Community and Identity in Latino Protestant Congregations." Inter-University Program for Latino Research (IUPLR) Conference in Notre Dame, April

Linda Kawentel. "School Sector and Catholic Religiosity:  Re-Examining How School Type Relates to Later Religiosity Among American Catholics," Society for the Scientific Study of Religion, annual meeting: Newport Beach, October

Brianna McCaslin.  "Thou Shalt Not: Experiences of Contraceptive Use Among Married Catholic Women," Society for the Scientific Study of Sexuality's Beyond the Boundaries conference: Albuquerque, November

Megan Rogers.  "The Impact of Differing Levels of Legal Regulation on Chinese Religiosity,"  American Sociological Association, annual meeting:  Chicago, August

Megan Rogers with Mary Ellen Konieczny.   "Religion, Secular Humanism, and Atheism: USAFA and the Cadets' Freethinkers Group," American Sociological Association, annual meeting:  Chicago, August

Megan Rogers.  "Who Are China's Buddhists? Applying Riesebrodt's Theory of Religion to Contemporary Chinese Buddhism," Association for the Sociology of Religion, annual meeting: Chicago, August

Peter Ryan. "The "Language of Reverence", Secularization Movement(s) and Countermovement(s) in the Unitarian Universalist Association," Society for the Scientific Study of Religion, annual meeting: Newport Beach, October

Lisa Swartz.  "Al Mohler's Pulpit:  Embodied Masculinity at a Southern Baptist Seminary," Society for the Scientific Study of Religion, annual meeting: Newport Beach, October

Justin Van Ness.  "Exploring a New Religious Movement's Anti-Religious Religious Culture," Society for the Scientific Study of Religion, annual meeting: Newport Beach, October

Bradley Vermurlen.  "The Production of Marginal Culture:  The Case of Calvinist Hip-Hop," Junior Theorists Symposium: Chicago, August

Michael Wood.  "Individual Religious Trajectories and Civic Engagement:  Separating the Never Religious from the Formerly Religious,"  Society for the Scientific Study of Religion, annual meeting: Newport Beach, October

Michael Wood.  "Bonds of Discord: Religious Meaning-Making in Online Mormon Interpretive Communities,"American Sociological Association, annual meeting:  Chicago, August

2014

Cole Carnesecca. "Theologies of the State: the Meiji Restoration and the Emergence of Religious Modernity in Japan," Society for the Scientific Study of Religion, annual meeting: Indianapolis, October - November

Shanna Corner. "The Religious Homeschool Movement and Micro-Level Impact on Educational Attainment," American Sociological Association, annual meeting: San Francisco, August

Shanna Corner with Sara Skiles-duToit. "Introducing the Fourth Wave of the National Study of  Youth and Religion," Society for the Scientific Study of Religion, annual meeting: Indianapolis, October - November

Hilary Davidson. "Searching for the Good Life: Emerging Adults, Religion, and Inequality," American Sociological Association, annual meeting: San Francisco, August

Hilary Davidson. "Searching for the Good Life: How Religious Identities and Social Class Craft Aspirations during Times of Transition," Society for the Scientific Study of Religion, annual meeting: Indianapolis, October - November

Daniel Escher. "Religion, Sensation-Seeking, and Risky Behaviors," Society for the Scientific Study of Religion, annual meeting: Indianapolis, October - November

Linda Kawentel. "Catholic Millennials and Family Life: Exploring Differences and Similarities Within and Across Generations on Attitudes Concerning Family, Gender, and Sexuality," Association for the Sociology of Religion, annual meeting: San Francisco, August

Linda Kawentel. "Religious Predictors of Gender Attitudes and Family Practices of American Catholics," Society for the Scientific Study of Religion, annual meeting: Indianapolis, October - November

Peter Ryan. "Sacred Ambiguity: The Reproduction of Weak Boundaries in Religious Systems," Society for the Scientific Study of Religion, annual meeting: Indianapolis, October - November

Ariana Salazar-Newton. "Belief, Belonging, or the Congregational Form: Religious Correlates to Latino Labor Mobility," American Sociological Association, annual meeting: San Francisco, August

Ariana Salazar-Newton. "Mapping U.S. Hispanic Identity Pathways: Religion, Ethnicity, and Segmented Assimilation," Society for the Scientific Study of Religion, annual meeting: Indianapolis, October - November

Ariana Salazar-Newton with Chris Ellison et al.. "Latino Clergy Attitudes toward AIDS: Characteristics, Values, and Personal Ties," Society for the Scientific Study of Religion, annual meeting: Indianapolis, October - November

Brandon Sepulvado with David Hachen and Omar Lizardo. "The Role of Religion and Non-Religion in Social Network Formation," Society for the Scientific Study of Religion, annual meeting: Indianapolis, October - November 

Lisa Weaver Swartz. "Evangelical Anti-Feminist Egalitarianism," Society for the Scientific Study of Religion, annual meeting: Indianapolis, October - November

Justin Van Ness. "Embodying the Swastika: manipulating the body for access to valued interaction rituals,"  American Sociological Association, annual meeting: San Francisco, August

Justin Van Ness. "Unpacking a Love Bomb: (Re)visiting the Psychophysiological Approach to Conversion," Society for the Scientific Study of Religion, annual meeting: Indianapolis, October - November

Brad Vermurlen. "Hip-Hop and Black Identity in the (Mostly White) New Calvinist Movement," Society for the Scientific Study of Religion, annual meeting: Indianapolis, October - November

Meredith Whitnah. "Religion and Gender in Global Perspective: Faith & the Fragility of Justice in South Africa," American Sociological Association, annual meeting: San Francisco, August

Meredith Whitnah. "Empowering Women: Faith-Based NGOs, Legacies of Apartheid, and the Role of Gender in Development," Society for the Scientific Study of Religion, annual meeting: Indianapolis, October - November

Meredith Whitnah with Nicolette Manglos-Weber and Chris Smith. "Religion and Intimate Partner Violence among Emerging Adults" Society for the Scientific Study of Religion, annual meeting: Indianapolis, October - November

2013

Jade Avelis. "Religion and Ideal Age of Marriage Among Young Emerging Adults," American Sociological Review: New York, August

Shanna Corner. "The Influence of Religion on Political Participation in European Countries: Contextual and Individual Effects," Society for the Scientific Study of Religion, annual meeting: Boston, November

Daniel Escher. "Power, Population, and Religion in Central Appalachia:  The Fight over Mountaintop Removal," American Sociological Association: New York, August

Justin Farrell. "Moral Shock and Altruism in the Aftermath of the 2010 BP Oil Spill," American Sociological Association: New York, August

Karen Hooge. "Resources and Opportunities for Awareness and Action: A Catholic University's Response to Human Trafficking," Society for the Scientific Study of Religion, annual meeting: Boston, November

Karen Hooge. "Individualism and Marriage:  Ideal Types for Making Sense of the Relationship Between Self and Sacrifice," Society for the Scientific Study of Religion, annual meeting: Boston, November

Megan Rogers.  "How Religious Are the Chinese?  An Application of Riesebrodt's Theory of Religion to the Chinese Case,"  Society for the Scientific Study of Religion, annual meeting: Boston, November

Ariana Salazar-Newton. "Belief or Belonging: Latino Congregation Employment Assistance and Labor Mobility," Society for the Scientific Study of Religion, annual meeting: Boston, November

Brandon Sepulvado. "Conceptualizing Identities as Networked Modes of Action," American Sociological Association: New York, August 

Justin Van Ness. "Power Consolidation, Cultural Set Points, and the Internet: the shift from public to mass," American Sociological Association: New York, August 

Justin Van Ness. "Reclaiming of the Swastika: the use of shock value in a religious symbol,"  Society for the Scientific Study of Religion, annual meeting: Boston, November

Bradley Vermurlen. "The Structure of the Evangelical Field," Society for the Scientific Study of Religion, annual meeting: Boston, November

Mary Ellen Kosnieczny and Meredith Whitnah. "Symbol & Materiality in Cultural Production: The USAFA Cadet Chapel, Monumentality, and Religious Pluralism," American Sociological Association: New York, August 

Meredith Whitnah. "From Race to Gender: Faith-Based Organizations and the 'New' South Africa," Society for the Scientific Study of Religion, annual meeting: Boston, November

2012

Shanna Corner. "Traditional Gender Idealogies:  The Impact of Christian Schools," Society for the Scientific Study of Religion, annual meeting: Phoenix, November

Daniel Escher. "How Does Religion Promote Foregiveness? Linking Beliefs, Orientations, and Practices," American Sociological Association: Denver, August

Karen Hooge. "Religiousness and Body Satisfaction in Emerging Adults," American Sociological Association: Denver, August

Peter Mundey.  "Follow the Informal Rules to Limit Harm:  Avoiding Negative Interactions When Using Social Network Sites," American Sociological Association: Denver, August

Megan Rogers. "Contemporary Chinese Religious Scholars' Views and Opinions of Religion," Society for the Scientific Study of Religion, annual meeting: Phoenix, November

Brad Vermurlen. "How Leaders Create momentum:  Rethinking Religious Strength in a Strategic Field," Society for the Scientific Study of Religion, annual meeting: Phoenix, November

2011

Cole N. Carnesecca. "Church as Protest:  The Case of Chinese Christianity," Association for Asian Studies. Honolulu, March – April

Cole N. Carnesecca. "Revolution and Religious Reform: The Indigenous Church Movement in Republican China," Joint Conference on Christianity in Asia: Past, Present and Future, Hong Kong, May

Cole N. Carnesecca. "Virtually There: A Theory of Virtual Sociality and Emotions," American Sociological Association: Las Vegas, August

Shanna Corner.  "The Prostitution of Individuality: The Protestant Ethic and Prostitution in the United States versus Sweden," American Sociological Association, annual meeting: Las Vegas, August

Bryant Crubaugh. "Protest Participation in Africa: Expanding the Two-Stage Process of Protest Participation," American Sociological Association, annual meeting: Las Vegas, August 

Hilary Davidson. "Religion and Mass Media Accounts of Collective Action," American Sociological Association, annual meeting: Las Vegas, August 

Daniel Escher. "Religion, Gender, and Forgiveness," American Sociological Association, annual meeting: Las Vegas, August.

Karen Hooge. "The Effect of Religious Tradition and Frequency of Partner's Actions on Relationship Satisfaction," American Sociological Association, annual meeting: Las Vegas, August.

Amy Jonason. "When ‘The Means Matter’: Identity and Strategy in a Catholic Worker Initiative," Young Scholars in Social Movements Conference: Notre Dame, April

Amy Jonason. "Action in the Key of ‘Neighbor’: How Culture Shapes Strategy in a Catholic Worker Initiative," Chicago Ethnography Conference: Notre Dame, April

Mary Ellen Kosnieczny and Meredith Whitnah. "American Identity, Religion, and the Sacred: The Construction of the United States Air Force Academy Cadet Chapel," American Sociological Association, annual meeting: Las Vegas, August

Hyunjin Kwak. "The Effect of Religious Repression on Non-State Conflicts," American Sociological Association, annual meeting: Las Vegas, August

Brian Miller and Peter Mundey. "The Nexus Between Sitting in the Pews and Using Facebook: How Religion Affects SNS Use." Annual Meeting of the American Sociological Association: Las Vegas, August

Brandon VaidyanathanPeter Mundey, Melissa Pirkey, and Katie Spencer. "Cultures of Money: Explaining Congregational Responses to the Economic Crisis." Paper presented at the Annual Conference of the American Sociological Association: Las Vegas,  August

Brandon Vaidyanathan. "Considering Beauty: 'Positive Emotional Shocks' in Religious and Social Movements," American Sociological Association annual meeting: Las Vegas, August

Brandon Vaidyanathan. "The Paradox of Professionalism: Enabling and Obstructing Mobilization in Indian Call Centres,” Annual Conference of the Academy of Management: San Antonio, August 15

Brandon Vaidyanathan and Jonathan Hill. "Religion and Charitable Financial Giving to Religious and Secular Causes: Does Political Ideology Matter?" Annual Symposium on Religion and Politics, Calvin College, Grand Rapids, April 28-30

Bradley Vermurlen. "Organizational Culture and Boundary Work in Church Planting," American Sociological Association, annual meeting: Las Vegas, August

2010

Jade Avelis. "Religiosity and Work-Family Conflict Among Graduate Students," American Sociological Association, annual meeting: Atlanta, August

Stephen Armet. "Is U.S. Religious Exceptionalism Attributable to Immigration?" Society for the Scientific Study of Religion, annual meeting: Baltimore, October

Cole Carnesecca. "Church as Protest: The Case of Chinese Christianity," Society for the Scientific Study of Religion, annual meeting: Baltimore, October

Ellen Childs. "How Pastors Reach the Pews: Examining How Pastors Affect Congregational Change," Society for the Scientific Study of Religion, annual meeting: Baltimore, October

Kari Christoffersen. "Paranormal Romance Novels: Another Form of Tradition in the Modern World," American Sociological Association, annual meeting: Atlanta, August

Kari Christoffersen and Jade Avelis. "Vampires and the Amish: Dominant Cultural Themes in Secular and Christian Romance Novels," Society for the Scientific Study of Religion, annual meeting: Baltimore, October

Hilary Davidson. "Checks and Balances: Family Structure and Religious Financial Giving," American Sociological Association, annual meeting: Atlanta, August

Hilary Davidson. "Hot for Jesus: Religious Language and the Byproduct of Evangelical Adolescent Gender Normalization," Society for the Scientific Study of Religion, annual meeting: Baltimore, October

Daniel Escher. "Revisiting Risk Preference Theory: Can It Explain the Gender Difference in Religiosity?," American Sociological Association, annual meeting: Atlanta, August

Daniel Escher. "Revisiting Risk and Religiosity: Can It Explain the Sex Difference in Religiosity?" Society for the Scientific Study of Religion, annual meeting: Baltimore, October

Daniel Escher. "A Little Bit of a Funny Spot: Clerical Ambivalence and Uncertainty Toward Divorce," Society for the Scientific Study of Religion, annual meeting: Baltimore, October

Justin Farrell and Kraig Beyerlein. "Religion Fought the Law and the Law Won," American Sociological Association, annual meeting: Atlanta, August

Chris Hausmann. "Constituting Ritual Experience: Reification of Religious Experience as an Outcome of Collective Practice," Society for the Scientific Study of Religion, annual meeting: Baltimore, October

Patricia Snell Herzog and Brandon Vaidyanathan. "Who are My Neighbors? Cultural Refraction in Contemporary Ethnic Conflict," American Sociological Association, annual meeting: Atlanta, August

Amy Jonason. "Could Asylum Theory Have Implications For Minority Membership in Multiracial Congregations? A Preliminary Exploration," American Sociological Association, annual meeting: Atlanta, August

Linda Kawentel. "Getting Back into the Habit: Making Sense of Why Young Women Religious are Turning to the Habit Today," American Sociological Association, annual meeting: Atlanta, August

Chris Morrissey. "The Contribution of Religious Actors to the Discussion of Foreign Policy in the Public Sphere," Society for the Scientific Study of Religion, annual meeting: Baltimore, October

Peter Mundey and Kraig Beyerlein. "Toward a Synthetic Perspective on Religious Vitality: Combining Rational Choice and Social Movements in Literatures," Society for the Scientific Study of Religion, annual meeting: Baltimore, October

Brandon Vaidyanathan. "The beauty of the thing’: Aesthetic Motivation in Religion and Social Movements," Society for the Scientific Study of Religion, annual meeting: Baltimore, October

Brad Vermurlen. "Religious Identity Salience and Discussion-Network Structure," American Sociological Association, annual meeting: Atlanta, August

Brad Vermurlen. "Mobilizing and Multiplying Evangelical Churches: Acts 29 Church Planting Network," Society for the Scientific Study of Religion, annual meeting: Baltimore, October

Brad Vermurlen. “The Good Life:  Christian Faith and Consumer Culture among Emerging Adults” presented at the University of Michigan as a guest lecturer in undergraduate course SOC 455: Sociology of Religion, November 18

Meredith Whitnah. "Citationality, Violence, and the Body: The Construction of Intimate Partner Violence in American Evangelicalism," American Sociological Association, annual meeting: Atlanta, August

Meredith Whitnah and Patricia Snell Herzog. "Interactions of Gender, Socioeconomic Status, and Denomination in Spatial Concentration of Religious Youth Socialization Efforts," Society for the Scientific Study of Religion, annual meeting: Baltimore, October